Portable radial saw

Abstract

A portable radial saw consisting of a planar work table, an arm extending horizontally over the table, being pivoted on a vertical axis to the table adjacent one edge of the table and guided for movement concentric to its pivotal axis adjacent the opposite edge of the table, being connected to the table by vertically yieldable connectors whereby to rest by gravity on work pieces supported on the table, a carriage movable along the arm and adapted to carry a power saw operable to saw a work piece on the table as the carriage traverses the table, clamps operable to secure both ends of the arm solidly against pivotal movement, and a gauge operable to preset the depth of the saw cut despite the variable elevation of the arm above the table.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A portable radial saw comprising: a. a table assembly having a horizontally planar top slab,   b. an arm extending forwardly and rearwardly across the top slab of said table assembly,   c. front connecting means joining the forward portion of said arm to said table assembly for horizontal pivotal movement above a vertical axis,   d. rear connecting means joining the rearward portion of said arm to said table assembly for horizontal arcuate movement concentric with said front pivotal axis,   e. a saw cradle mounted slidably on said arm for movement therealong to traverse the top slab of said table assembly,   f. a power saw mounted on said cradle and operable to cut a work piece positioned on said table slab beneath said arm as said cradle traverses said table slab,   g. a depth-of-cut gauge device comprising a support member disposed beneath a portion of said arm forwardly spaced from said table slab, a horizontally planar gauge member disposed above said support member, said arm being of sufficient forward extent that the blade of said power saw may be disposed directly above said gauge member, and said blade may be lowered to touch said gauge member by means of said power saw adjustment, and means mounting said gauge member on said support member, whereby the vertical elevation of said gauge member relative to said support member may be adjustably varied.   
     
     
       2. A portable radial saw as recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting means of said gauge member comprises: a. a vertical stem to which said gauge member is affixed, and   b. a vertical sleeve carried by said support member and in which said stem is threaded for vertical movement said stem having longitudinally spaced indicia imprinted thereon which may be indexed to an end of said sleeve.   
     
     
       3. A portable radial saw as recited in claim 2 wherein said mounting means of said gauge member additionally includes: a. a slide carried for sliding movement by said support member in a direction transverse to said arm, and   b. manually operable means for moving said slide whereby said gauge member may be selectively extended beneath or withdrawn from beneath said saw blade.   
     
     
       4. A portable radial saw as recited in claim 3 with the addition of a normally open electric switch mounted on said support member and connected in the operating circuit of said power saw motor, said gauge member stem being operable to engage and close said switch only when said gauge member is withdrawn laterally from beneath said saw blade, and lowered beneath the maximum possible downward extension of said saw blade below said arm.